TORONTO - Emily Cooper of Durham College has been named the inaugural Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Female Rookie of the Year.
Cooper (Guelph) has yet to suffer a loss in conference play as a student-athlete on the Durham Lords women's rugby sevens team. Debuting last September, the winger was second behind teammate Shay Morris in league scoring, setting a new OCAA single season record scoring 34 tries. The exploits of Morris and Cooper helped Durham establish a new OCAA single season record of 578 total points scored.
Durham ran the table during the regular season with an unblemished 18-0 mark, with Cooper participating in every match. Cooper scored multiple tries in 11 matches, including a pair in Cooper's OCAA debut on Sept. 17, a 40-0 victory over Loyalist. Cooper scored a season-best four tries in a 34-0 victory over Algonquin, one shy of tying an OCAA single-match record. Cooper scored three tries on four occasions, and a pair of tries in six matches.
To open October, Cooper scored at least one try in 10 consecutive matches, as the month ended with the Durham Lords celebrating an undefeated season and a first-ever OCAA championship. Cooper scored a try in each of Durham's post-season victories, including a 17-5 win over Fleming in the OCAA gold medal match. Cooper was honoured as the OCAA Women's Rugby Sevens Rookie of the Year along with being named an OCAA League All-Star.
Cooper was recognized recently by Durham Athletics & Recreation as its Women's Sevens Rugby Rookie of the Year and Female Freshman Athlete of the Year. In the classroom, Cooper is also an OCAA All-Academic Award winner and an OCAA Academic & Athletic Excellence Award winner.
Continuing to play through the collegiate off-season, Cooper joined the Durham Lords earlier this month in Tampa, Fla., for the Tropical Rugby 7s, competing in the Under-23/University Women's Open.
The OCAA has expanded its season ending awards to include an athletic administrator, coach and rookies in addition to its traditional athletes of the year. Winners will be honoured at the 10th OCAA Hall of Fame ceremony, to be held at the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts in Windsor, Ont., on Monday, May 1.
2022-23 OCAA MAJOR AWARDS
Apr. 12 - Ray Chateau, Athletic Administrator of the Year
Apr. 13 - Emily Cooper, Female Rookie of the Year
Apr. 14 - Male Rookie of the Year
Apr. 17 - Coach of the Year
Apr. 18 - Male Athlete of the Year
Apr. 19 - Female Athlete of the Year
- OCAA -
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